WATCH: Arise Sir William… Birthday Honours

Saturday 17 June 2017

Six Jersey residents have been named in this year’s Queens Birthday Honours.

The Bailiff becomes Sir William Bailhache for services to the Crown and Community.

There are three MBEs – Members of the British Empire – for Brian Heath for services to the Jersey Probation and after-care service; for Paul Tucker for services to scouting; and to Carole Penfold for services to the community through the League of Friends.

And two BEMs – British Empire Medals – to Pat Robson for services to Art; and to Carole-Anne Robins for services to the community.

As has become tradition the new Lieutenant-Governor announced the news at a special levee at Government House last night. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton says he is "knocked over by the quality and quantity of the voluntary sector in the Island". 

Sir William – the younger brother of Sir Philip Bailhache himself a former Bailiff and now a senator and the Island’s External Relations Minister – said of his appointment that he was ‘delighted and very pleased both for himself and his family, and for the Island”.

Sir William left private practice as a lawyer in 2002 to take up the post of Attorney General. Was appointed Deputy Bailiff in 2009 and took up the top job in 2015. The role of Bailiff has often been criticised as being undemocratic since it combines being both the Island’s top judge and ‘speaker’ of the States, but Sir William says there isn’t a conflict. He also says honorary service is still very much alive in the Island.

Brian Heath MBE joined the Probation Service as a trainee in 1983 and has steadily worked his way up the ranks to his current post of Chief Probation Officer. He says the service plays a vital role in the administration of justice in the Island, and that it is highly thought of, but that much of its work goes unseen to the general public.

Paul Tucker MBE got involved in scouting when one of his children joined a local troop and he was asked to help out with the football. That was back in 1978. He gradually took on more and more responsibility and was eventually made Islander Commissioner. More than 1,000 people are involved in scouting locally. Mr Tucker believes scouting helps prepare youngsters for adult life.

Carole Penfold MBE became involved with the League of Friends almost 30 years ago, and is now its secretary. It runs a café and shop in the General Hospital and has raised more than a million pounds for much needed hospital equipment.